​This past year, I was inspired, as I am sure many of you were, by the story of the Thai soccer team youth who survived in the cave for 10 days before being rescued. Their coach had taught them meditation which they practiced during this time as a means to help conserve their energy and not panic. Closer to home, we can be inspired by a story shared during our fall networking session by an elementary classroom teacher in Ann Arbor. She reminds her students to practice using their mindful breathing during traumatizing lock down drills which they have to undergo to protect themselves in case of an active school shooter. While I am distressed that we live in a world where we need to practice these drills, isn’t wonderful that our students and teachers can have a go-to practice to use during these stressful times. I am grateful to this teacher for having the presence of mind to offer the practice of mindfulness in real time, and hope many other teachers in our classrooms will feel so inspired! - Rita Benn